“So why would I draw something rather than take a photograph?” one student asked.

I began to feel she was in the wrong class. This was a sketching class after all.

The teacher paused. This wasn’t a throw away question. This was going to turn into a psychological debate.

“A photograph is a snapshot in time,” he said, staring into the middle distance. “It’s something you see and record. A sketch is a snapshot of how you feel.”

Artisall is a new venture by resident artists Brian Adams and Le Matt. Their small art studio is tucked behind the hubbub of Orchard Road, perched on top of Emily Hill. It’s an escape from city life, part of a creative community of sculptors and glass artists, perfectly placed between new and old Singapore.

During the Sketching Singapore Landscapes course, our small group of six was guided by Brian, from the basics of perspective drawing through to landscapes and street scenes in watercolour. With a creative career in interior design and art, he has decades of experience to share. Whether you’re a novice or a practicing perfectionist, his patience and insight encourage even the most timid, and the examples of his work adorning the studio walls, give inspiration. If you’re looking to explore the abstract or portraits, the Creative Painting workshop with Le Matt, might be up your street.

Both courses currently cost S$200 for four sessions, instead of the usual S$300, so sign up quickly as spaces are limited. It’s a great way to meet people, and see Singapore in a new light.